Princeton Approves East Ridge Subzone In 4-3 Vote As $155.6 Million Buildout Advances And $3 Million To $4 Million Fire Station Site Problems Explode On FM 1827

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City Council

At the Monday, June 8, 2026 City Council meeting, lawmakers worked through a long list of development, public safety, and city policy items that will touch residents in neighborhoods, on the roads, and across future growth areas. The biggest themes were East Ridge financing, the new public safety building, road repairs, and fresh rules the city wants to put in place for data centers and electric micro-mobility devices.

East Ridge’s Final Financing Moves Ahead

Council approved the last round of assessments and bonds tied to East Ridge Public Improvement District improvements in area 6. Staff said this is the final bond sale for the development, which covers 453 lots total in 6A and 6B. The deal also includes the city’s 45% TERS offset. For nearby homeowners, that means the project’s taxes and fees are now locked into the next phase of buildout.

Lennar Gives Serenity Update

Lennar Homes came back with a progress report on Serenity, the development planned in the city’s ETJ. Company officials said the project now shows about 27.5 acres of open space, three access points, and a school site already sold to the district. Council members pressed Lennar on the layout, the open space, and what happens if the project slows. The company said phase one plat work is still moving, and it hopes to return later this month with final plat items.

City Weighs Public Safety Building Site

Police leaders asked council to keep the current Corporate Drive and Myrick site for the future police headquarters instead of moving to a larger tract. They said shifting sites would raise costs and wipe out work already done on grading, utilities, and drainage. Supporters also pointed to the shared campus feel with Parks and Recreation. Council members split between protecting prime commercial land and keeping the public safety campus close to the rec center.

EPT Commercial Wins Project Management Role

Council approved a contract with EPT Commercial to manage the public safety building project, not to exceed $384,367.60. The firm will help with design coordination, bidding, construction tracking, and closeout. City staff said the work would be hard to handle in house and that the outside manager should help keep the project moving without adding a full-time position.

EPT Commercial Gets A Second Role On Parks Work

Council also approved a third amendment with EPT Commercial for project management on the city’s parks bond projects. Staff said the firm is already involved in several park jobs and can help save time and money by keeping multiple projects aligned. Leaders said that kind of coordination could help avoid delays on projects residents have been waiting on.

City Adopts New Fleet Replacement Policy

Council signed off on a vehicle and equipment replacement fund policy. Staff said the goal is simple: track fleet needs earlier, spread costs out over time, and avoid big surprise expenses later. Departments from police to parks to public works helped shape the plan, which is meant to make replacement decisions more predictable for taxpayers.

City Updates Purchasing Rules

Council also revised the city’s purchasing policy to match current state law. The changes raise the formal procurement threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 and require more written documentation for purchases over $500. Staff said the update should make city spending easier to track and give residents a clearer paper trail on where money goes.

Council Tightens E-Mobility Rules

A new ordinance on electric micro-mobility devices moved forward after council trimmed some of the language, including replacing an “irrebuttable presumption” with a rebuttable one for parents. The rules still cover where the devices can be ridden, fines for violations, and parent responsibility. The city also made clear that public sidewalks are off-limits under the new framework.

Sex Offender Ordinance Remains In Draft Form

Police and legal staff said they are still working on a revised sex offender ordinance and want more time to make it tighter and easier to enforce. The draft is still being reviewed for legal clarity, and staff said they want to avoid vague language that could cause problems later. Council will see more on that next month.

Council Starts Data Center Crackdown

Council gave staff direction to begin work on zoning changes that would force data centers into a specific use permit process instead of allowing them outright in several zoning districts. Leaders said they want more control, more public hearings, and more room to demand studies on water, noise, traffic, and safety before anything gets built. Staff said the first step will be a formal ordinance process with public hearings.

Road Repairs Get More Focus

Public Works gave a roadway update and said the city has already laid more than 3,300 tons of asphalt this year. Staff said Beecham, Dalton, Mabel, South Bourland, Long Neck, College, Yorkshire, and other roads are all in different stages of repair or planning. They also said some roads, like Dalton, may need full reconstruction rather than patchwork fixes. A broader cost study is coming back later this summer.

Council Turns To The Future Of The Police Department Site

Council also discussed whether the future police building should stay at the current Myrick and Corporate location or move to a larger parcel nearby. Police said the current site supports a shared public safety and parks campus, while critics raised concerns about losing commercial land and locking in higher costs later. No final land switch was made, but the discussion made clear the site choice will shape the city for years.

By the end of the night, council had locked in the final East Ridge financing, approved contracts tied to the police building and parks work, updated city purchasing and fleet rules, and started the push for stronger controls on data centers and e-mobility devices. The sex offender ordinance and the broader data center zoning rewrite will come back after more legal work, while road updates, project management, and the public safety site debate are set to return next month.

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Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone

The Princeton Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board met June 8, 2026, with East Ridge development financing at the center of the discussion. The main vote dealt with the latest amendment tied to TIRZ No. 3, but much of the meeting turned into a bigger debate over whether future TIRZ money could help pay for public safety needs in the fast-growing north side of town.

East Ridge Subzone Amendment Moves Forward

The board approved an amendment to the project and financing plan for TIRZ No. 3 in a 4-3 vote. The change creates Subzone 3.6 for East Ridge areas 6A and 6B, described as phase 1 south and phase 8. City staff and MuniCap said this is the sixth and final subarea under the TIRZ tied to the East Ridge Public Improvement District.

Pid Buydown Plan Stays In Place

MuniCap told the board that 45 percent of the tax increment from this subzone is still set aside to reduce PID assessments for property owners, just like earlier phases. Officials said the subarea is expected to build out at about $155.6 million in value and generate roughly $516,569 a year in city taxes, with about $232,456 going toward lowering PID costs. That was described as about $696 a year for 60-foot lots and about $536 for 40-foot lots.

Board Presses For Fire Station Options

A large share of the discussion focused on whether TIRZ language could be changed later to better support a future fire station in north Princeton. Board member Brianna Todd asked for wording that could open the door to using funds for public safety facilities. Others said they wanted more information before changing how the TIRZ is structured, especially since the 45 percent buydown was already promised as part of earlier agreements.

Lawyer Warns Against Changing Terms On The Fly

The city attorney urged caution, saying the board should not rewrite financing terms during the meeting without a fuller review. He said the 45 percent increment has already been tied to keeping PID assessments lower through multiple bond series, while the remaining 55 percent already flows into the city’s general fund and can be spent for lawful city needs. That means fire, police, roads, and other projects are already in play during the budget process.

Questions Raised About Homeowner And Bond Impacts

Several board members said they want a clearer picture of what any future change could do to homeowners, city finances, and past bond commitments. The concern raised at the dais was simple: if money is pulled away from PID assessment relief, future homeowners in that area could end up paying more. Staff said this amendment applies to future homeowners in the new subzone, not current owners elsewhere.

Fire Chief Casts Doubt On Donated Site

Fire Chief Gammill told the board the three-acre site previously discussed for a fire station is not a practical option in its current condition. He said the land sits in a floodplain and could cost about $3 million to $4 million just to bring it up to buildable condition. He also said its location near a curve on FM 1827 would make emergency access difficult and less safe for fire crews.

Debate Spills Into Growth And Density Concerns

The TIRZ vote also reopened frustration over how Princeton is managing rapid growth. One member said these financing tools are encouraging too much density, while others argued the city needs to get smarter and more proactive about paying for services that growing neighborhoods will need. That tension framed the final vote and showed the board is not united on how these development deals should work.

In the end, the board approved the East Ridge amendment and kept the PID buydown plan intact, but the larger fight over public safety funding is far from over. Members signaled they want the TIRZ language and funding options back for a closer look in July, when staff is expected to return with cleanup amendments and possibly more detail on what changes could legally be made.

🥪 Lunch & Learn
📅 June 10 | 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Legacy Church, 120 Ticky Drive, Princeton, TX 75407
A midday meetup with a useful twist. If you like your networking with a side of lunch, this one is an easy yes.

🎉 Ribbon Cutting-Fitness Court
📅 June 13 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Silo Crossing Park, 1418 S. Bridgefarmer Road, Lowry Crossing
A fresh community spot deserves a proper welcome. Swing by and be there for the official snip of the ribbon.

☕ Business & Breakfast
📅 June 16 | 7:30 AM
The Whitley, 596 N Beauchamp Blvd, Princeton
Early birds, this one's for you. Bring your business cards and get in the room with some of the best business folks in the area.

✂️ Ribbon Cutting-Moore Mobile Notary
📅 June 16 | 8:30 AM
The Whitley, 596 N Beauchamp Blvd, Princeton, TX 75407
Quick, local, and worth popping into if you like supporting new business milestones. Ribbon cuttings are basically small-town confetti.

🏛️ Princeton EDC
📅 June 16 | 6:00 PM
Princeton Municpal Center Chamber, 2000 E. Princeton Rd., Princeton, TX 75407
If you like keeping tabs on what’s shaping Princeton’s future, this is one for the calendar. Civic meetings are not flashy, but they are where the real town story gets written.

🏢 Princeton CDC
📅 June 17 | 6:00 PM
Princeton Municipal Center, 2000 E. Princeton Dr., Princeton, TX 75407
Another good pick for residents who like to stay looped in. Consider it a front-row seat to local community development.

🚪 Closed
📅 June 19 | 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM
No location listed
Not exactly a night out, but it is on the calendar. Worth noting if you were planning to stop by for something that day.

🏙️ Princeton City Council
📅 June 22 | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Princeton Municipal Center, 2000 E. Princeton St., Princeton, TX 75407
A solid choice for anyone who likes to know what’s happening beyond the headlines. Local government may not come with popcorn, but it does shape daily life.

🎀 Ribbon Cutting-The Whitley
📅 June 24 | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
The Whitley, 596 N Beauchamp Blvd, Princeton, TX 75407
One more ribbon cutting, because apparently June is feeling ceremonial. Stop by and help welcome The Whitley with a little community fanfare.